8.2
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $880
- Average Mileage:
- 84,050 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 522 complaints
Most common solutions:
- Dodge should recall the dashboard (safety issue) (281 reports)
- not sure (115 reports)
- replace dashboard (105 reports)
- class action lawsuit against Dodge for inferior dashboards (16 reports)
- bought an aftermarket dash replacement (3 reports)
- dashboard, vents, radio replacement (1 reports)
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Obviously I am not the only Person with a dash that is cracked and continuing to crack. Dodge touted quality and workmanship. that certainly was a load of crap. My biggest complaint is the cracked dash, but I have also had paint issues 1 year after buying the truck. I have complained, but to no avail. Only have 115K on my 2002 but I think I have had enough. Next truck will not be a Dodge regardless of al the Slick ads.
- stephenlk, Scranton, PA, US
Dash cracked to pieces on the front part close to windshield, rear portion has one big crack all the way across and is very brittle as you can poke a hole in it with a little pressure with ones finger. Would hate for the airbag to blow all these sharp pieces of broken plastic into the occupants..
- jwall, Meridian, MS, US
I was told that this was my fault and didn't care for it properly so I fixed it myself. Then four years later the same thing and now there's hardly anything left of the dash and it makes the truck ugly as hell to be such a good truck. I wished that Dodge will at least reimburse me so that I can purchase a cover or something.
- Terry H., Franklin, KY, US
click to see larger images
I have had several vehicles over the years some that were 10-15 years old and never had the dash board crack. I have seen cars that are 20 or more years old and there dash boards are not cracked. This is a safety problem if I was to get into an accident the pieces form the dash could possibly become shrapnel an cause serious damage or death to me or anyone in the truck with me not to mention the possibility of pieces falling into the vent and blowing in my eyes while driving and cause and accident that could lead to my death anyone in my truck or anyone else on the road this is a major safety problem that Dodge needs to address and recall
- agentoso31, Shelbyville, TN, US
click to see larger images
The defroster vents were the first to go. Pieces broke off and fell down into the vent system. I removed all four vents and replaced them with brass wire screen formed over a wood block that was shaped like the originals.
A few months later the forward section of the top started crumbling in large sections. I removed it and contoured a hard wood board to replace the plastic. Soon the rear-ward section (nearest the seats) started cracking with large pieces falling off around the side window vents.
I had to replace the radio due to the DVD player not working. Upon pulling the front dash panels off I noticed that most of the clips that hold them in place are broken off. I re-glued what I could but my efforts were in vain.
The plastic catches on the ash tray door and the cup holder assembly were broken and I fabricated metal ones that will work until the rest of the plastic disintegrates.
Conclusion: Replacing the dashboard top covers (2 pieces) would be futile. The entire dashboard with all its panels should be replaced. Dodge needs to admit they used inferior plastic in 2002 and recall the truck.
- Russ H., Lamar, CO, US
I take great care of my truck in fact this truck has spent most of the years that I have owned it in the garage when not in use.The dash started to have a small crack near the defroster vents and then within a month the entire dash started disintegrating. I have owned all types of trucks and cars and have never seen anything like this.It is clearly a manufacturing defect.
- Mark H., Phoenix, AZ, US
I have checked and it cost too much for me. I feel it is a safety issue. In case of air bag deploying it would send pieces flying and could injure occupants.
- njswink, Port Isabel, US
As wide spread as this is i think they should fix the problem
- kenjf, Morganton, US
bad cracks in the dash and on the sides and in the front all need to be fix by Dodge for bad parts, could cause serious problems and or death if not fix.
- Tommy P., Calumet, OK, US
I am 65 and my husband is 75. Our dashboard is literally falling off of our vehicle. The wiring and other components are exposed due to the failure of this dash.
I we drive with the windows down and nothing covering the dash, pieces flap and we are afraid they will fly off and hit us.
This is a prevalent and potentially dangerous problem. The cracks are razor sharp so when I tried to line them up, I was nicked in the finger.
Dodge needs to make this right. We are not in the position of buying another vehicle so we need this one to last, unfortunately if this keeps up, there will be more than a dash to replace when the wires, etc under it start to become affected.
- Donna H., Wickenburg, AZ, US
The dash board is literally breaking into pieces like a mirror dropped on the ground. It looks terrible and is progressively getting worse. There are dozens of cracks all over the dash
- Jeffery E., Siler City, US
The entire dashboard is cracked in many places and is falling into the air conditioner vents and everything else under the dash. The foam under the dash is flying out the air condition vents.
- Roger D., Jupiter, FL, US
The cracks started off as small and minor, but now have grown into awful large, cracks, and caving in. No way to sell or trade this vehicle with it looking like this. As I have read, with as many listed with the same problem, I would think it would be defective/poor craftsmanship on the dash itself. Dodge should have to do something about these complaints!
- Sonja L., Cottondale, AL, US
Cheap plastic used under extreme temperature exposures both hot and cold causes expanding and contracting, end result shattered plastic and a level of protection becomes a disfigurement or loss of type injury. Regardless of length of time, warranty, or classification of part. This is a good example of not responding to the safety concerns, and of cutting corners to save a buck.
- jembrose, Graham, NC, US
I had a 1999 Ram and a 2002 Ram and both of the dashes cracked really bad. This is a constant problem with these vehicles. I don't know if this is a common problem with other vehicles but it is a pain in the ass and looks terrible as it is a blemish on Dodges quality.
- american made, Frankfort, IN, US
The end of July 2015 I noticed a large crack in the dash of my Dodge Ram 1500 truck, and now 8/10/15 I have noticed 2 more cracks have started. I always have sun shields in when truck is parked. I take very good care of my truck, so for this to start happening is very frustrating. Now I am not sure when the cracking will stop.
- Janie K., Richland, WA, US
Jul 192013
Ram 1500 SLT Plus Quad Cab SB 5.9L 245 V8
- Automatic transmission
- 120,000 miles
This was my company car from 2008 - 2015.
I got this car in 2008. It had been mine for about a year when i realized that it came with exclusive aftermarket accessories, such as excessive rust around the rear wheel wells, a heater that only works on one side of the car, and an air conditioner that blew hot air when the car was stopped!
One day, I was approaching the car with keys in hand. I accidentally dropped them near the rear wheel (which, by this point, was rusted through). As I bend down, I scratch my arm on the rust! So, one tetanus shot later, the steering starts to shake really bad, and I find out that the rack and pinion fail! And I only had this car for 4 years! And, TO PUT THE CHERRY ON TOP, a crack appears in then dash. It enlarges over the next few months, and, at one point, I go into the car to find out that the DASH CAVED IN ON ITSELF! Wires must've either been clipped by the plastic dash falling in or melted by the sun, because soon after that, multiple speakers in the car stopped working and the hazards and turn signals stopped working! Once, while I was driving with the windows open, a piece of the dash flew up and cut the back of my hand. Luckily I did not need stitches .The only reason I kept it was because it was either keep driving this, or risk damaging my new Nissan Maxima. And , FINALLY, after 7 LONG, BITTER YEARS OF STRUGGLE, I GET A 2015 NISSAN MURANO TO REPLACE THE RAM!!!
I really don't know why THIS model year Ram is so faulty. I mean, my friend drives an '93 Ram 250 with over 200,000 miles on it, and it still works fine, with the common problems for other cars it's age and mileage! I don't understand why the 1500s took such a wrong turn!
- henryw.ny, Long Island, NY, US
I thought it was just sun when the first crack started so I bought a dash soft cover. Over the years the dash has caved in on itself so cracked into tiny pieces. I called Dodge but they said it was out of warranty and just cosmetic. Yesterday I had to slam on the brakes to prevent hitting a deer, when a large pice flew to the back seat and cut my 3 year old grandson's arm. This is ridiculous! I can't afford the thousand dollars for a new dash so I have searched wrecking yards all of them tell me they have none as all their dashes are cracked as well. So I began to research it only to find every Dodge owner of this year has this problem. I have a friend who works for Dodge Dealer in Atlanta GA who told me "even if you bought one from us it would do the same thing, maybe you can find an aftermarket and have a better product"
This is not acceptable. Chrysler needs to own up to its problem and offer us a dash board credit or replace our dashes or some lawyer needs to file a class action suit. What's it going to take, someone getting and taken out before the federal transportation committee? Recall these Dodge problems?
- pugutopia, Sabinal, TX, US
The dash had two cracks when I bought it from the dealer in 2005. Over the years it has continued to literally disintegrate! Now the smaller pieces vibrate off and fall inward, or fly off into the cabin when the truck windows are rolled down. This is definitely a hazard to my eyes now! I wear sunglasses in the day, and have had a piece hit just above my eyes once.
- David P., Davie, FL, US
This cracked broken dash is a safety hazard. It hurts resale value and pieces of it have fallen down in so that baffles in air box don't open and close correctly, so air is warm and heat is cool. It sucks and I won't purchase another Dodge.
- Garland H., Winston Salem, NC, US